The geology of Norway encompasses the history of earth that can be interpreted by rock types found in Norway, and the associated sedimentological history of soils and rock types.
The Norwegian mountains were formed for more than 600 million years ago, that is in the precambrian, the Caledonian orogeny.

The Espedalen area was strongly touched by the mountain folds when the norwegian mountains towered up during the Caledonian orogeny.
Earthquakes, sinking land blocks and volcanism when the ”Oslo-field” was created about 200 million years ago, also moved parts of the western parts of Oppland and Valdres.

The result of the Caledonian orogeny can be read locally in shape of tectonic structures within the two dominating covers units, Jotun-Valdres complex and Synnfjell cover.

A smaller part of Jotun-Valdrescover complex around Espedalen, belongs to the Espedalen complex, which gives us the oldest rock types within the area. This leads deep rock types of middle proterozorisk age, like Gabbro, norite, melanoritt and labradoranorthositt. An exiting element in this complex is Nickel mineralisation (fe-chu-ni) with sink blend and lead shine to these mafic and part ultramafic intrusions.

It has been ore industry through several periods in Espedalen. Copper ore in the period 1666-72 and nickel from 1845-64 and 1874 – 88. In later time one has continued the search for usable finds of nickel in the south end of the valley.

To read more on this new search - go to information on the Espedalen project in Blackstone Ventures web site here..>